Greece is struggling with severe water shortages as climate change intensifies droughts and aging infrastructure leaks nearly half of its drinking water. The crisis threatens agriculture, public health, and daily life.
In Argolida, southern Greece, water seeps from cracked irrigation canals while aging underground pipes lose over half the water they carry, according to officials. During dry months, brackish backup sources supply homes in Nafplion, leaving residents unable to drink tap water.
"You can smell the difference in the water, feel the dryness on your clothes," said jeweller Lydia Sarakinioti, who uses bottled water even for cooking.
The crisis reflects a broader European problem. This month, the EU launched a campaign to tackle water shortages, requiring member states to assess leakage levels before imposing legal limits next year. The initiative, expected to cost hundreds of billions of euros, comes as extreme weather worsens across southern Europe.
Greece, which has spent over €1.5 billion on drinking water infrastructure since 2019, loses around 50% of its drinking water due to leaks and theft—double the EU average of 23%. A decade-long debt crisis has left its pipeline network outdated, with many maps either missing or not digitized.
In Argolida, a key agricultural region producing about a third of Greece’s oranges, the problems are acute. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged action in November, promising irrigation network extensions and a desalination unit, but officials warn of fundamental flaws.
"If an area's network leaks everywhere, what's the point of buying a new desalination unit or drilling a well?" said Environment Ministry official Petros Varelidis, noting that leakages in some areas reach 80%.
Contaminated Water and Environmental Risks
Water scarcity has led to poor quality. When the reservoir feeding Nafplion shrinks, authorities supplement it with brackish water from Anavalos, a submarine spring. Tests from June 2022 to November 2024, seen by Reuters, revealed excessive chloride and sodium levels, posing risks to those with kidney or blood pressure issues.
The coastal town of Ermioni faces similar problems, with only 8% of its 13,500 residents having permanent access to safe drinking water. Many rely on bottled water, exacerbating plastic waste.
Outside urban areas, farmers drill up to 300 meters underground in search of water, often finding it too salty due to seawater intrusion into depleted aquifers.
"Every drop of water is indispensable… We pin our hopes on rainy winters," said farmer George Mavras, as drought-stricken fields struggle to survive.
With climate change worsening and infrastructure under strain, Greece’s water crisis is set to deepen without urgent intervention.
Greece loses 50% of its drinking water due to leaks and theft – twice the EU average.
In Argolida, irrigation canals crack and underground pipes waste half the water.
Some areas lose up to 80% of their water supply.
Hotter summers & erratic rainfall worsen the crisis.
2023-24 saw record-breaking heat, leaving many areas dry for months.
Farmers drill up to 300m underground, but salty seawater seeps into depleted wells.
In Nafplion, residents cannot drink tap water when reservoirs run low.
In Ermioni, only 8% of people have permanent access to safe drinking water.
High chloride & sodium levels detected in backup water sources.
Greece has spent €1.5 billion since 2019 on water infrastructure.
PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised new irrigation networks & desalination plants.
Officials say fixing leaks must come first before investing in new systems.
Many rely on plastic bottled water, increasing waste.
Farmers depend on rainy winters, but droughts make survival harder.
The EU launched a water security plan this month, setting leakage limits for 2025.
The crisis is expected to cost hundreds of billions of euros across Europe.
Without urgent action, Greece’s water shortages will only get worse.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was working towards a fair deal with Iran, hours after the Senate voted to direct him t...
From Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking night in Houston to England’s frustrating draw in Boston and Algeria’s comeback win in San Francisco, t...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the construction of two new 5,000-tonne warships every year over the next five years, signalling one of th...
A United Nations enquiry has accused Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, saying the action...
Google-owned YouTube has settled a lawsuit brought by a teenage plaintiff who claimed the platform harmed his mental health, avoiding what would have ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was working towards a fair deal with Iran, hours after the Senate voted to direct him to halt military action against Tehran in a rare bipartisan rebuke.
From Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking night in Houston to England’s frustrating draw in Boston and Algeria’s comeback win in San Francisco, the FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered another packed day of action.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the construction of two new 5,000-tonne warships every year over the next five years, signalling one of the country’s most ambitious naval expansion plans to date.
A United Nations enquiry has accused Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, saying the actions amounted to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, while also documenting war crimes against children in the occupied West Bank.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
Major technology, telecom, aviation and crypto-related firms have pledged to strengthen cooperation to tackle the illegal wildlife trade according to statements made at a business forum convened by United for Wildlife during London Climate Action Week.
Scientists have identified almost 166,000 square kilometres of coral reefs worldwide that appear capable of surviving and recovering from the impacts of climate change, offering new hope for some of the planet's most vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Australia's weather bureau warned on Tuesday that an El Niño weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026, becoming one of the strongest events recorded in seven decades.
France’s parliament has formally recognised state responsibility for the use of the toxic pesticide chlordecone in Martinique and Guadeloupe, marking a significant step in addressing decades of environmental contamination and public health concerns.
Financial markets are significantly underestimating the economic impact of biodiversity loss, potentially leaving countries exposed to sovereign debt crises and rising borrowing costs, according to new research published on Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment